ANALYSIS OF HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA-CAUSING ISOLATES OF PASTEURELLA-MULTOCIDA BY RIBOTYPING AND FIELD ALTERNATION GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS (FAGE)

Ribotyping and field alternation gel electrophoresis (PAGE) were used to examine 19 Pasteurella multocida isolates, and to assess the abilit y of these techniques to differentiate P. multocida strains that cause haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), Reproducible patterns were obtained fr om both methods, with PAGE demonstrating greater discriminatory power than ribotyping. PAGE analysis was particularly useful in distinguishi ng North American cultures originating from the 1922 Yellowstone Natio nal Park Buffalo 'B' strain, demonstrating the ability to detect genet ic alterations induced by repeated subculture. A remarkable homogeneit y was observed among Asian HS strains following ribotyping and PAGE an alysis, with a clear distinction observed between virulent and avirule nt HS isolates. This study has illustrated the value of genomic finger printing methods in distinguishing strains of similar serotype, and th e capability of these methods to produce detailed characterisation of P. multocida isolates. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.